#sharlayan pretty much spends almost the entire time trying to contain the fallout from riven and seb's escape

[scrollsfromarebornrealm]

Prompt #29: Contravention

The papers from Site Sixteen were both damning--and sickening to read. Sebastian Astralyas and Riven DeGlass hadn't been it's only victims. The entire Dominant bloodline of Thaliak had also been an injured party, as well as other Dominants that had been kidnapped from Eorzea over the past several decades. Even more horrifying, the anti-Eikon research the facility had produced had been given to the Empire--who in turn had perfected their anti-magic and anti-Eikon capabilities. The blame for that could be laid squarely at the feet of now ex-Forum members Iato and Sevestre.

But it wasn't the investigation into those two that Fourchenault found himself assigned to...

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"Odin and Valefor's Dominants must be brought back to the isle." Barnier inhaled, tucking his arms behind his back. "As they were the direct victims of...Iato and Sevestre's misdeeds, they are needed to testify in court. Public support is squarely on their side. Much of the citizenry is furious over the blatant contravention of laws performed by Iato and Sevestre while they wore the uniform of the Forum."

"And you...think I can do this?!" Fourchenault asked, a stunned look on his face. "Surely--a team--"

"I want to, but it would look then as if we were hunting them. And while we are in a way, the optics would reflect even worse upon us." Barnier answered.

"You won't be going at this alone. We've already reached out to our people in Eorzea--and they will offer whatever support you need." Montichaigne broke in, gesturing with one hand. "Also, the timing works in your favor. Astralyas has been locked up for nigh a decade, and Odin was severely hurt. He will need to stop and rest. DeGlass was technically not as wounded, but she's never left the isle before."

"I see." Fourchenault murmured. "Their families--would they possibly support them in any way?"

"Astralyas' parents thought their son was dead. When they were informed of his...situation, they wanted naught to do with him." Montichaigne inhaled, gripping his temper with a firm hand.

"Astrid is in shock." Barnier reported. "Which is not going to last for long. I've put her under house arrest with a compliment of guards on her. Otherwise she'd kill Sevestre."

"What about Riven's parents?"

"Same as Astrid, but taking heed to my advice at the moment." Barnier still couldn't shake the looks of horror that had come over Roderick and Emma DeGlass's faces. They had willingly given Riven over to Sevestre when she'd first Primed, wanting to save their daughter's life. An Eikon was a death sentence--robbing its' bearer of years of life in exchange for power. And Riven was so young--just barely in the first bloom of full womanhood.

"Do we know the full details yet of how they escaped Site Sixteen?" Fourchenault asked.

"Not yet. The initial evidence seems to be so far that Riven somehow escaped her cell, and triggered an alarm for the facility to be evacuated. At some point Astralyas was freed--and then Riven Primed, using her Eikon's powers to blow up the building." Montichaigne began.

"Along with a good portion of that level of Labyrinthos." Barnier finished. "The aetherical readings are still scrambling our equipment. Valefor seems to be extremely powerful aetherically." The older elezen closed his eyes, sighing.

"We need this settled, Leveilleur. The safety of the star depends on it. Had that facility been any closer to Aporia..." Barnier let himself trail off. No need to finish.

"I understand." Foruchenault answered, his voice quiet. "When do I leave?"

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(a thank you to @erickgage for giving me inspiration for this prompt!)